April 11 2018 Edition

Anyone can write a novel; try getting it down to 400 words,” says author Barbara Reid, explaining the challenges of writing for children. It’s hard to think of a more appropriate quote to open this article. Covering the ninth annual ImagiNation Writers’ Festival at the Morrin Centre was the easy part; giving the events proper recognition in a few words is a tall order.

The Quebec government lavished spending on the arts in its budget two weeks ago. From free entry to province-run museums one Sunday per month, to money for cultural field trips for children in daycare, to major boosts to writers’ and musicians’ funding organizations, the unexpected injection of tax dollars into culture has left players in the domain more or less gobsmacked.

A group of community-based organizations, under the umbrella of the Quebec Community Health and Social Services Foundation, have created the position of patient navigator to support English-speaking patients who have to travel to Quebec City for medical services.

This street in the Saint-Sauveur district of Quebec City is named in honour of Charles Joseph Alleyn, an Irishman born in County Cork in 1817. He studied at Clongowes Wood College and came to Lower Canada with his family around 1837.

Quebec City literary enthusiasts enjoyed the ninth annual ImagiNation Writers’ Festival from April 3-8. While the readings and discussions fed the soul, the Books & Wine, Cooking with the Wolfman and Books & Brunch events fed the body.

Music director Fabien Gabel and the musicians of the Orchestre symphonique de Québec (OSQ) launched their 2018-2019 season on March 27. During the press conference, Gabel said, “Making this city vibrate to the sound of music is a source of extreme motivation for me… I hope to see you again for this new season, which promises to be exceptional.”

Over the March 23-24 weekend, the Quebec High School Senior Improv Team traveled to Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, near Montreal, to compete in the Montreal Regional Improv Championships organized by the Canadian Improv Games.